It would be nice to know precisely what was said after last week's meeting on immigration reform at the White House.
It's likely we'll never know the truth of what happened and this whole matter will evaporate like almost all the bipartisan political squabbles inside the Beltway.
Those involved include the President of the United States, legislators and cabinet members, who are public persons, holding positions in the public trust, and are sworn to uphold the law.
According to multiple news sources, including a string of stories on CNN, the discussion during which this happened was about a bipartisan plan to allow children, brought to the United States from other countries illegally, to have an extended stay or path to citizenship.
Allegedly Trump began to discuss from where the children, and illegal immigrants in general, come. Allegedly Trump referred to nations in Africa as "#@&%hole" countries.
Among those at the meeting, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Trump used the vulgar word. Graham has been careful not to take his recollection further, because finding a solution to the immigration conundrum needs Trump's approval, he said. Graham said the Washington Post's initial report that Trump used the word was true.
Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) said in a joint statement "We do not recall the President saying these comments ..."
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Trump didn't use the specific word - and she was grilled by a Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
"I was struck more by the fact that the conversation - although passionate and appropriately so - had gotten to a place where many people in the room were using inappropriate language in the oval office in front of the president," Nielsen said to the committee, according to CNN.
Others at the meeting, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Rep. Robert Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), despite the public interest, haven't said what they heard.
What was really happening? Maybe there was such a high volume of profanity used by those in the room that only a few of those in the room noticed. Maybe the exact word used by the president was close to what is quoted, but not exactly the same. Maybe everyone at the meeting needs to talk less and listen more.
People tell lies, both big and small, every day. It's important we hold people in the public's trust to a higher standard. They represent their constituents and the nation.
People regularly use vulgar language. Depending on where a person lives and works, it could be commonplace. If the White House walls could talk, they'd recount countless uses of profanities. This isn't about the fact that vulgarity was used, instead it's about how the use of a word negatively characterized other nations.
What is said by our president is important because he represents us all. He is our chief diplomat. He is our leader. In order to properly represent our nation to the world, it's important the president be tactful. We all knew what we were getting into when Trump was elected president. We expect the tweets, saucy language and vulgarity.
The African Union, which represents countries on that continent, and some of the ambassadors to the United Nations representing African states have asked for apologies and retractions. Nobody should hold their breath while waiting for this to happen.
It's difficult to understand the low level of honesty that exists among those in key positions leading our nation.
- Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.
It's likely we'll never know the truth of what happened and this whole matter will evaporate like almost all the bipartisan political squabbles inside the Beltway.
Those involved include the President of the United States, legislators and cabinet members, who are public persons, holding positions in the public trust, and are sworn to uphold the law.
According to multiple news sources, including a string of stories on CNN, the discussion during which this happened was about a bipartisan plan to allow children, brought to the United States from other countries illegally, to have an extended stay or path to citizenship.
Allegedly Trump began to discuss from where the children, and illegal immigrants in general, come. Allegedly Trump referred to nations in Africa as "#@&%hole" countries.
Among those at the meeting, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Trump used the vulgar word. Graham has been careful not to take his recollection further, because finding a solution to the immigration conundrum needs Trump's approval, he said. Graham said the Washington Post's initial report that Trump used the word was true.
Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) said in a joint statement "We do not recall the President saying these comments ..."
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Trump didn't use the specific word - and she was grilled by a Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
"I was struck more by the fact that the conversation - although passionate and appropriately so - had gotten to a place where many people in the room were using inappropriate language in the oval office in front of the president," Nielsen said to the committee, according to CNN.
Others at the meeting, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Rep. Robert Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), despite the public interest, haven't said what they heard.
What was really happening? Maybe there was such a high volume of profanity used by those in the room that only a few of those in the room noticed. Maybe the exact word used by the president was close to what is quoted, but not exactly the same. Maybe everyone at the meeting needs to talk less and listen more.
People tell lies, both big and small, every day. It's important we hold people in the public's trust to a higher standard. They represent their constituents and the nation.
People regularly use vulgar language. Depending on where a person lives and works, it could be commonplace. If the White House walls could talk, they'd recount countless uses of profanities. This isn't about the fact that vulgarity was used, instead it's about how the use of a word negatively characterized other nations.
What is said by our president is important because he represents us all. He is our chief diplomat. He is our leader. In order to properly represent our nation to the world, it's important the president be tactful. We all knew what we were getting into when Trump was elected president. We expect the tweets, saucy language and vulgarity.
The African Union, which represents countries on that continent, and some of the ambassadors to the United Nations representing African states have asked for apologies and retractions. Nobody should hold their breath while waiting for this to happen.
It's difficult to understand the low level of honesty that exists among those in key positions leading our nation.
- Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.
